Glossary

A short inner forestay that supports the forward part of a sailing vessel’s mast.

A baby stay normally runs from a point on the forward face...

To trim or hold a sail so the wind presses on the side opposite its normal driving side.

A backed headsail can push the bow away from the wind...

A headsail held or sheeted to windward so its aerodynamic force acts opposite to its usual direction.

It is used during heaving-to, some...

Standing rigging leading aft from a mast to support it against forward loads.

A permanent backstay commonly leads from or near the masthead to...

For the wind direction to change anticlockwise when viewed on a compass.

For example, a change from north through northwest towards west is...

To remove water from inside a boat using a bucket, scoop or similar container.

Bailing is common in dinghies, tenders and open boats after...

A container or fitted device used to remove water from a boat.

A hand bailer may be a purpose-made scoop, bucket or other suitable container....

A named sea area used in the UK Shipping Forecast, in the North Atlantic between Scotland and Iceland.

The area takes its name from a sandbank...

Weight carried or built into a vessel to improve stability, trim or draught.

Ballast may be fixed, as in a sailing yacht’s keel, or variable,...

A black ball-shaped day signal used alone or in combinations to show a vessel’s status.

Depending on its number and arrangement with other...

A ridge of sand, gravel or other sediment that creates shallow water, often across or near a river or harbour entrance.

Depth over a bar can...

A line or tackle that changes a sheet’s lead position to adjust sail shape or sheeting angle.

A barber hauler may pull a headsail sheet...

The condition of a sailing vessel when all sails are lowered or stowed.

Even without sails set, wind acting on the hull, mast and rigging can...

An RYA course-completion certificate covering basic emergency survival techniques and safety equipment for people going to sea.

The one-day...

A platform at or near the stern that provides access between a vessel and the water.

It may be moulded into the hull, fixed externally, folded...

A thin, stiff strip fitted to a sail to support its shape and control the leech.

Battens slide into pockets in the sail and resist unwanted...

A reinforced sleeve or enclosure in a sail that retains a sail batten.

The pocket positions the batten so it supports the sail’s designed...

An International Code of Signals flag whose single-letter meaning is “I am taking in, discharging or carrying dangerous goods.”.

The Bravo...

To bring a vessel deliberately onto a shore or drying surface.

Beaching may be used for landing, inspection, maintenance, emergency action or...

A fixed aid to navigation that marks a position, hazard, boundary or route.

A beacon may stand on land, a pile, rock or the seabed and can...